SC Dismisses Wasim Rizvi's Petition Seeking Removal Of 26 Quran Verses, Imposes Rs 50,000 Fine

The Supreme Court on Monday (12 April) dismissed former Uttar Pradesh Shia waqf board chairman Wasim Rizvi's petition seeking removal of 26 verses of the Quran, Live Law has reported.

The apex court bench led by Justice R F Nariman termed the petition "absolutely frivolous" and imposed Rs 50,000 in costs.

"Are you pressing the petition? Are you seriously pressing the petition?", Justice Nariman asked Rizvi's counsel.

Rizvi's lawyer argued that he was confining the plea towards regulation of Madrasa education while claiming that the literal interpretation of certain verses preached violence against non-believers.

"My submission is that these preachings advocate violence against non-believers. Children are kept at captivity at madrasas at a tender age. Students are not to be indoctrinated. These preachings cannot be in the market place of ideas. I have written to the Central Government for action, but nothing has happened", the lawyer said.

The plea also claims that these 26 Quran verses are used as justifications by Islamist terrorists to attack non-believers.

"On account of the versus of Holy Quran, (more particularly described in the Writ Petition), the religion of Islam is drifting away from its basic tenets with a fast pace and nowadays is identified with violent behavior, militancy, fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism", the petition adds.

The court though was not inclined to hear the petition and proceeded to dismiss it.